New Labour in Disarray in Falkirk West

The New Labour campaign in Falkirk West has disintegrated into an exercise of infighting following the selection of the controversial Camelon Councillor, Dennis Goldie.

Mr Goldie was described by a senior council colleague in the New Labour supporting Daily Record as "a car crash waiting to happen" following his 55 votes to 23 selection by local New Labour activists in Falkirk West.

Recent national press reports have also highlighted a chequered past for the veteran Labour members that includes.

• Being the only Falkirk Council member ever to be found guilty of inappropriate behaviour by the Standards Commission.
• Joining Billy Buchanan as the only councillor ever to have been thrown out of a committee meeting of the council for bad behaviour.
• Using the Tory Right to Buy legislation to build up a stock of seven council houses.
• Being reported to his own party by Labour MP, Michael Connarty for seeking to place the Labour whip on an application to approve a controversial private sector landfill application.
• Campaigned against his own party in areas such as equality legislation and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament he now hopes to join.
• Reported to Labour national leaders by political opponents when he claimed the SNP's opposition to extended late hours take away licenses was because most of the applicants were Asian.
• Campaigning against the relocation of Falkirk Football Club to Westfield including meeting secretly with Alan Mackin owner of East Stirling FC.
• Sought to undermine the regeneration of Denny and Stenhousemuir Town Centres with support for a counter application by a major Food Store at Camelon against the council's own Local and Structure Plans.

Speaking to local SNP activists SNP candidate, Michael Matheson said.

"Clearly New Labour are in disarray both locally and nationally. The fact Jack McConnell personally recommended the defeated candidate in the internal election process, Ian Smart, demonstrates the lack of confidence in the local choice.

However, while Labour are in disarray the SNP's positive message locally is attracting hundreds of former Labour voters disillusioned by their party's drift to the right.

The prospect of having an SNP MSP at the heart of an SNP led Executive is proving an attractive one to local people. This is particularly true of those who believe our country should be involved in the international peace movement rather than conducting illegal wars."